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are coming！ They are burning the crops！ They are only six leagues
off； and then only two … the refugees who have run away from the
disorder prove it。
On the 28th of July； at Angoulême；＇11＇ the alarm bell is heard about
three o'clock in the afternoon； the drums beat to arms； and cannon
are mounted on the ramparts。 The town has to be put in a state of
defense against 15；000 bandits who are approaching； and from the
walls a cloud of dust on the road is discovered with terror。 It
proves to be the post…wagon on its way to Bordeaux。 After this the
number of brigands is reduced to 1；500； but there is no doubt that
they are ravaging the country。 At nine o'clock in the evening
20；000 men are under arms； and thus they pass the night； always
listening without hearing anything。 Towards three o'clock in the
morning there is another alarm； the church bells ringing and the
people forming a battle array。 They are convinced that the brigands
have burned Ruffec； Vernenil； La Rochefoucauld； and other places。
The next day countrymen flock in to give their aid against bandits
who are still absent。 〃At nine o'clock；〃 says a witness； 〃we had
40；000 men in the town； to whom we showed our gratitude。〃 As the
bandits do not show themselves； it must be because they are
concealed； a hundred horsemen； a large number of men on foot； start
out to search the forest of Bra？onne； and to their great surprise
they find nothing。 But the terror is not allayed； 〃during the
following days a guard is kept mounted； and companies are enrolled
among the townsmen；〃 while Bordeaux； duly informed； dispatches a
courier to offer the support of 20；000 men and even 30；000。 〃What
is surprising；〃 adds the narrator； is that at ten leagues off in the
neighborhood； in each parish； a similar disturbance took place； and
at about the same hour。〃 All that is required is that a girl；
returning to the village at night； should meet two men who do not
belong to the neighborhood。 The case is the same in Auvergne。
Whole parishes； on the strength of this； betake themselves at night
to the woods； abandoning their houses； and carrying away their
furniture； 〃the fugitives trod down and destroyed their own crops；
pregnant women were injured in the forests； and others lost their
wits。〃 Fear lends them wings。 Two years after this； Madame Campan
was shown a rocky peak on which a woman had taken refuge； and from
which she was obliged to be let down with ropes。 The people at
last return to their homes； and resume their usual routines。 But
such large masses are not unsettled with impunity； a tumult like
this is； in itself； a lively source of alarm。 As the country did
rise； it must have been on account of threatened danger and if the
peril was not due to brigands； it must have come from some other
quarter。 Arthur Young； at Dijon and in Alsace；＇12＇ hears at the
public dinner tables that the Queen had formed a plot to undermine
the National Assembly and to massacre all Paris。 Later on he is
arrested in a village near Clermont； and examined because he is
evidently conspiring with the Queen and the Comte d'Entraigues to
blow up the town and send the survivors to the galleys。
No argument； no experience has any effect against the multiplying
phantoms of an over…excited imagination。 Henceforth every commune；
and every man； provide themselves with arms and keep them ready for
use。 The peasant searches his hoard； and 〃finds from ten to twelve
francs for the purchase of a gun。〃 〃A national militia is found in
the poorest village。〃 Burgess guards and companies of volunteers
patrol all the towns。 Military commanders deliver arms； ammunition；
and equipment； on the requisition of municipal bodies； while； in
case of refusal； the arsenals are pillaged； and； voluntarily or by
force； four hundred thousand guns thus pass into the hands of the
people in six months。＇13＇ Not content with this they must have
cannon。 Brest having demanded two； every town in Brittany does the
same thing； their self…esteem is at stake as well as a need of
feeling themselves strong。 … They lack nothing now to render
themselves masters。 All authority； all force； every means of
constraint and of intimidation is in their hands； and in theirs
alone； and these sovereign hands have nothing to guide them in this
actual interregnum of all legal powers； but the wild or murderous
suggestions of hunger or distrust。
V。
Attacks on public individuals and public property。 … At Strasbourg。
… At Cherbourg。 … At Mauberge。 … At Rouen。 … At Besan？on。 … At
Troyes。
It would take too much space to recount all the violent acts which
were committed； … convoys arrested； grain pillaged； millers and corn
merchants hung； decapitated； slaughtered； farmers called upon under
the threats of death to give up even the seed reserved for sowing；
proprietors ransomed and houses sacked。＇14＇ These outrages；
unpunished； tolerated and even excused or badly suppressed； are
constantly repeated； and are； at first； directed against public men
and public property。 As is commonly the case； the rabble head the
march and stamp the character of the whole insurrection。
On the 19th of July； at Strasbourg； on the news of Necker's return
to office； it interprets after its own fashion the public joy； which
it witnesses。 Five or six hundred beggars；＇15＇ their numbers soon
increased by the petty tradesmen； rush to the town hall； the
magistrates only having time to fly through a back door。 The
soldiers； on their part； with arms in their hands； allow all these
things to go on； while several of them spur the assailants on。 The
windows are dashed to pieces under a hailstorm of stones； the doors
are forced with iron crowbars； and the populace enter amid a burst
of acclamations from the spectators。 Immediately； through every
opening in the building； which has a facade frontage of eighty feet；
〃 there is a shower of shutters； sashes； chairs； tables； sofas；
books and papers； and then another of tiles； boards； balconies and
fragments of wood…work。〃 The public archives are thrown to the wind；
and the surrounding streets are strewed with them； the letters of
enfranchisement； the charters of privileges； all the authentic acts
which； since Louis XIV； have guaranteed the liberties of the town；
perish in the flames。 Some of the rabble in the cellars stave in
casks of precious wine； fifteen thousand measures of it are lost；
making a pool five feet deep in which several are drowned。 Others；
loaded with booty； go away under the eyes of the soldiers without
being arrested。 The havoc continues for three days； a number of
houses belonging to some of the magistrates 〃are sacked from garret
to cellar。〃 When the honest citizens at last obtain arms and restore
order； they are content with the hanging of one of the robbers；
although； in order to please the people； the magistrates are changed
and the price of bread and meat is reduced。 … It is not surprising
that after such tactics； and with such rewards； the riot should
spread through the neighborhood far and near： in fact； starting from
Strasbourg it overruns Alsace； while in the country as in the city；
there are always drunkards and rascals found to head it。
No matter where； be it in the East； in the West； or in the North；
the instigators are always of this stamp。 At Cherbourg； on the 21st
of July；＇16＇ the two leaders of the riot are 〃 highway robbers；〃 who
place themselves at the head of women of the suburbs； foreign
sailors； the populace of the harbor； and it includes soldiers in
workmen's smocks。 They force the delivery of the keys of the grain
warehouses； and wreck the dwellings of the three richest merchants；
also that of M。 de Garantot； the sub…delegate： 〃All records and
papers are burnt； at M。 de Garantot's alone the loss is estimated at
more than 100；000 crowns at least。〃 The same instinct of
destruction prevails everywhere； a sort of envious fury against all
who possess； command； or enjoy anything。 At Maubeuge； on the 27th
of July； at the very assembly of the representatives of the
commune；＇17＇ the rabble interferes directly in its usual fashion。 A
band of nail and gun…makers takes possession of the town…hall； and
obliges the mayor to reduce the price of bread。 Almost immediately
after this another band follows uttering cries of death； and smashes
the windows； while the garrison； which has been ordered out； quietly
contemplates the damage done。 Death to the mayor； to all rulers；
and to all employees！ The rioters force open the prisons； set the
prisoners free； and attack the tax…offices。 The octroi offices are
demolished from top to bottom： they pull down the harbor offices and
throw the scales and weights into the river。 All the custom and
excise stores are carried off； and the officials are compelled to
give acquaintances。 The houses of the registrar and of the sheriff；
that of the revenue comptr